Hi June, can you tell us a bit more about whats going on outside of the window, is there a pretty courtyard or are you not on the ground level? any ideas of what it might have been previously, has something been converted? whats on the other side of the wall to the left of the window, are the walls brick or framed timber, are you able/interested in making structural changes (for example installing a sky light or converting to a door or reclaiming the space from the other side of the wall or giving it back to what ever is on the other side to make that space larger etc..) or just looking for ideas to utilise the space as is? thank you, with a bit more info Ill put my thinking cap on. I must say it is a peculiar little nook isnt it? cheers Kate

two steps I see here 1. suggest you go back to council (either yourself or view builder if they are getting the permit) and question their particular interpretation of the reg 85, use the image posted previously and ask why "if a habitable room window is compliant when facing an open verandah so long as it's 1/3 open" an eave, which is 100% open and less overhang is considered to be non-compliant. If you have 1.4m offset from the boundary, and your eave is only 400mm, then arguably this window WILL be facing a light court with min 1m clearance to the sky (measured from the eave to the boundary) 2. If above is not accepted, then apply for the council "report & consent" process to vary reg 85. Best to discuss this directly with the relevant building surveyor so you can be confident it will be supported. Ask the surveyor specifically what that would likely need to see, such as do they want to see a bigger window of size Xmm x Ymm. You will likely need to submit updated drawings if the window currently drawn is on the min 10% of the floor area of the bedroom. It sounds like you may be out of your depth, and typically these report and consents involve response to Ministers Guidelines which can be tedious and you have to understand the technicalities and lingo, so perhaps it will be best to go back to whoever helped design/documented the building and get them to help you prepare the submission. It's now so close to Christmas/end of year and probably best this is handled after the flurry of the festive season has passed and people/admin/surveyors etc have some fresh energy and renewed patience.. Councils typically work on skeleton staff throughout this period so unlikely you'll get much of a difference in outcome timeframe wise whether you submit now or early new year. All it will do is be put in an admin pile and be addressed in due course Best of luck PD

Ok so French doors are on the street frontage. In that case I would leave bed where it is, but I would add a wide high curtain rod above the window behind to form a backdrop for the bed with shears always closed, creating illusion the window is wider and allowing the bed to be further from fireplace, centred between front of house and fireplace. Matching sets of curtains on both windows to the floor.

My daughter ran her business from her bedroom until they could afford a 3 bedroom house, their 2 bedder with two boys and no where else to fit an office was a very difficult time which thankfully they all survived. Having your office in your bedroom should be avoided at all cost, as you never leave the office behind as my daughter found out. Your bedroom is where you go to relax , I certainly wouldn't give up my sanctuary for anyone, even my kids. You are there full time so it makes sense. Your house already has enough rooms, except for making a small change to allow for another bedroom albeit small next to the bathroom as per my suggestion, Both of these rooms have space for the boys to have a desk (they don't need a lot of storage being part time) The desk in the living area can be built in to hide an office. This is a low cost solution and won't damage resale value. If down the track you can afford the new deck, try to work out to fit a room underneath as a hang out (media) area for the boys. not sure about WA but rooms like these in some states can have ceiling height at 2100, depends on what name!! you give them. My son is in a similar situation to you, except he now lives in a Studio Apartment in Sydney, so when he has his two kids 50 50 they make do in that space and seem to manage very well.